Dirty water, poor sanitation led to outbreak of hepatitis

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, October 1

The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Delhi, has submitted its report on the reasons for an outbreak of hepatitis at Harraipur and Rama villages.

The NCDC had constituted a team in this regard. Dr Hema Gogia, Deputy Associate Director, NCDC; and Dr Hemlata Lall, Assistant Director, NCDC were part of the team. According to the report, contaminated water supply, illegal water connections (borewell or tubewell which are not chlorinated at source) and poor sanitation are likely to be reasons behind the outbreak.

The report stated that of the 30 water samples collected by District Public Health Laboratory, Bathinda, from Harraipur village, six samples failed the purity test. In Rama village, one out of nine water samples failed the purity test.

According to the report, the Central team went door to door to meet the patients and took blood samples from both villages. All 12 blood samples from Harraipur village tested positive for hepatitis A and 19 out of the 21 blood samples of the suspected patients from Rama village tested positive for hepatitis E.

In the investigation report for Harraipur village, the team said there were eight water point connections and there was a possibility of contamination. Of these, there was a leakage at the source of one water point connection. The team said water pipes are in close proximity to the drains.

It also pointed out poor sanitation in the village. The report stated that the drains are open, dirty and overflow during rain. Besides, two ponds in the village are also dirty.

In the investigation report for Rama village, the team members stated that the water supply in the village is getting mixed with sewage.

According to the report, there is no system of regular maintenance of water pipes and there is lack of awareness about the use of chlorine tablets. Besides, the team members found that there is lack of public healthcare facility in close proximity to the village.

On September 21 and 22, the Central team, along with officials of the Health Department, visited Rama and Harraipur villages. Officials met patients and inspected waterworks and other areas where leakages were reported.